Extraction and drying apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for condensing moisture from an air stream. The condensing comprises an outer container, a middle container within the outer container, and an inner container within the middle container. The outer container contains a cooling material, such as water, and upon contact therewith, the air stream is cooled and moisture contained therein is condensed. The inner container also can contain a cooling material.

This application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 09/005,851 filedJan. 12, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to extraction and drying apparatus.

Apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,572,923, 5,170,697 and4,776,104, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated byreference, include extraction systems for extracting an effectiveingredient from a material such as malt, soybean or the like. Suchapparatus comprises a pulverizing minute particle generating tankincluding means for heating a reservoir of water to a predeterminedtemperature and a means for pulverizing or atomizing water; anextracting device connected to the pulverizing minute particlegenerating tank, which extracting device holds a raw material layer foradhering an effective ingredient of raw material to the pulverizedminute particles as the pulverizing minute particles pass through theraw material layer; a condensing device connected to the extractingdevice for liquefying the pulverized minute particles that have passedthrough and extracted an effective ingredient from the raw materiallayer; a reserve tank into which the water liquefied at the condensingdevice empties; a blower provided in a path between the reserve tank andthe pulverizing minute particle generating tank for decompressing theraw material layer within the extracting device; and a cooling means forcooling the condensing device and the reserve tank.

It would be desirable to improve the extracting and drying efficiency ofsuch apparatus, especially in view of environmental factors includingthe desire to reduce global warming. In addition, it would be desirableto provide a drying apparatus that is applicable to other drying systemsto improve the efficiency thereof, including conventional clothes dryersand the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems of the prior art have been overcome by the presentinvention, which provides a heating, extracting and condensing systemand method for efficiently recovering an ingredient from a raw material.The condenser is made up of three preferably cylindrical containers,with at least one container having a cooling medium therein forcondensing moisture from an air stream.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the extraction/dryingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another embodiment of theextraction/drying apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an external cylinder of anextracting device for use with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 (a), (b) and (c) are perspective views showing the constructionof the internal cylinder of an extracting device for use with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of air flow regulating means in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken along lines XI--XI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of theextraction/drying apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a condensing device in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a condensing device in accordance with afifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a construction of a first embodimentof the manufacturing apparatus, and in the drawing, reference numeral 1is a housing or container having a reservoir of liquid, preferablywater, therein. The housing 1 is preferably made of stainless steel. Thesize of the housing 1 is not particularly limited, and in the extractionembodiment shown, generally depends upon the amount of raw material 4used and the desired rate of extraction of effective ingredienttherefrom. The housing 1 includes means H for heating the reservoir,which means is not particularly limited, and can include an electricheating element or coil, a UV or IR heating element, a burner, etc.. Theheating means H must be sufficient to heat the liquid in the housing 1to a temperature necessary to cause vaporization of the liquid. Theheater can be coupled to a gauge (not shown) to allow the operator tospecify the desired liquid temperature, and to a switch (not shown) toactivate the heater. The heating means H can be located inside oroutside of the housing 1. Means (not shown) can be optionally providedin association with the housing 1 to generate pulverized minuteparticles of water or a mist. Suitable means include an ultrasonic wavegenerating device comprising one or more sets (depending upon the tanksize) of vibrators provided at the bottom of housing 1, each vibratorhaving the ability to pulverize water and create a mist. Conventionalultrasonic wave generators that are used in domestic ultrasonichumidifiers are suitable. Centrifugal atomization could also be used.

Housing 1 is in fluid communication via pipe P or the like with anextracting device 2 for extracting an effective ingredient from rawmaterial S contained therein. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of theexternal appearance of the external cylinder which is the main elementof the extracting device 2, and it includes a first external cylinder 2aand a second external cylinder 2b, both of which are constructed so asto be releasably joined to one another, and are preferably made ofstainless steel. A temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting thetemperature during the extraction operation can be fixed to the bottomside of the second external cylinder 2b. A hinged locking mechanism C1joins cylinder 2a to cylinder 2b so that the raw material can be easilyloaded and unloaded therefrom. FIG. 4 shows the extracting device 2 inits open, unlocked position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the internal cylinder which is housedin the external cylinder 2 of FIG. 3. FIG. 4(a) shows internal cylinder2c, which is of a suitable shape and size to fit into the aforementionedexternal cylinder 2, and includes at the bottom thereof a net portionfor holding the raw material that has been crushed into small pieces.FIG. 4(b) shows a guide plate 2d for insertion into the internalcylinder 2c, and as shown in FIG. 4(c), it is constructed so as topartition the crushed pieces S of raw material such as soy beans, maltsor Korean ginseng in the interior of the internal cylinder 2c. Thepresence of this guide plate 2d allows the vaporized liquid from thehousing 1 to easily and smoothing pass through the crushed pieces S ofraw material as will be described below. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that other shapes for guide plate 2d may be used, such as aspiral shape.

The extracting device 2 is in fluid communication with condensing device3 via pipe P2. A valve V1 can be positioned in pipe P2, and togetherwith valve V2 in pipe P3 (discussed below), regulates the air flow toand the degree of decompression in condensing device 3. Preferably thecondensing device 3 is comprised of two concentric cylinders; the outercylinder 4 housing a cooling material to cool the contents of the innercylinder 5. In the embodiment shown, the inner and outer cylinders arenot co-extensive, thereby allowing for a lower inner portion 5a forcollection of liquid condensate resulting from the cooling process.However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inner andouter cylinder 5 can be co-extensive, with suitable means (such astubing in communication with the inner cylinder 5 at one end and with asupplementary container at the other) provided for condensate collectionelsewhere. Similarly, the inner cylinder 5 could be smaller in lengththan the outer cylinder 4 in order to allow the cooling materialcontained in the outer cylinder 4 to surround not only the sides of theinner cylinder 5, but also the bottom thereof. In this latterembodiment, suitable means would again be provided for collecting thecondensate elsewhere.

Preferably the cooling material 6 contained in the outer cylinder 4 is aliquid, such as water. However, the cooling material 6 can also be a gasor a solid such as ice or other material that can maintain a coldtemperature for an extended period of time. The cooling material 6 canbe circulated in the outer cylinder 4 to enhance cooling, and can becontinuously or continually replenished during operation.

Preferably the inner cylinder 5 contains one or more air flow regulatormeans 36, most preferably two as shown. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6,the air flow regulators 36 comprise a plurality of sloping plates 37with a gap "g" formed between adjacent sloping plates 37. By adjustingthe inclination of the sloping plates 37, it is possible to adjust thequantity of the air flow being regulated. Air flowing into the innercylinder 5 causes the air flow regulators 36 to rotate about a verticalaxis, thereby forcibly directing the air flow toward the wall of thecylinder 5 which is cooled by the cooling material 6 in the outercylinder 4. Alternatively, the air flow regulator(s) 36 can be driven bya motor or the like to increase the extraction of the moisture from theair stream. Resulting condensate is drained from drain 7 and iscollected.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the condensing device 3where air flow regulation is accomplished using a triple containerdesign or the like. The outer container 4" contains a cooling material 6in its annulus, as in the previous embodiments. The middle container Mreceives the air flow from the extracting device via suitable piping 94,and the air flow proceeds out of the device (and optionally is recycledback to housing 1) via pipe 93. A central container 5" is positioned soas to assist in directing the contents of the middle container M againstthe outer container 4" to enhance cooling. The shape of the containersare preferably cylindrical but need not be; other shapes are suitable aslong as cooling is enhanced such as by forcing the air in the middlecontainer M against the outer container 4". Surface area of the coolingwalls is also important; thus a zig-zag shape could be used to increasesurface area; or alternating projections could extend from the coolingwalls to increase the surface area thereof.

FIG. 9 illustrates a still further alternative embodiment of thecondensing device. This embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG. 8,except the central container 5" is filled with a cooling fluid, whichcan be the same or different from the cooling fluid contained in theouter container 4". Where the fluid is the same, connecting means 95 canbe provided between the central container 5" and the outer container 4"to circulate the cooling fluid therebetween. As in the embodiment ofFIG. 8, the central container 5" is preferably but need not bycylindrical; other shapes that enhance cooling by increasing the surfacearea of the cooling surfaces and assist in forcing the medium to becooled against the cooling surfaces can be used. The central container5" can also be made shorter so that the medium to be cooled is alsoexposed to the bottom of the container. In addition, the inlet andoutlet for the medium to be cooled can be located so that the medium tobe cooled travels around the perimeter of the central container 5" priorto its exit from the condensing device. As in from FIG. 9, the centralcontainer 5" also can be longer than the outer container 4" and middlecontainer M, and includes an inlet 96 for introducing the cooling fluidtherein. The condensing devices shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 can be used withthe extraction system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or can be used alone toremove moisture (and dust) from air, such as in a warehouse or otherhousing where moisture-sensitive material (e.g., paper, cement, dryfood, grain, etc.) is stored, in a greenhouse, in a clean-room, or otherhigh-humidity area. A further application is at a deep boring site fortunnel construction or under the sea construction. The device can becombined with a heater to increase the temperature of the medium fromwhich moisture is being removed. A plurality of the device can bearranged in series to enhance condensing, and can be arranged in serieseither vertically or horizontally, depending in part on spaceconsiderations. The device is easier and faster to manufacture than theembodiment of FIG. 2 using the rotary device to regulate air flow.

At least one or more (two shown) air circulating or driving means isprovided, preferably in the form of a fan or blower 8. The fan(s) 8should be of a sufficient size so as to create decompression and provideflow through the system. The decompression should be within the range ofabout 5 to 500 mm H₂ O. A conventional domestic vacuum cleaner fan hasbeen found to be effective.

The condensing device 3 is in communication with housing 1 via pipe P3.Valve V2 can be positioned in pipe P3 to regulate air flow anddecompression with valve V1. For example, if valve V1 is partiallyclosed while valve V2 is open, then the condensation apparatus 3 will beunder a state of decompression. If valve V2 is partially closed whilevalve V1 is open, the pressure in the condensation apparatus 3 willincrease. The modulating of the valves can be accomplished manually orautomatically.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described based upon theabove construction, and also a preferred embodiment of the beveragemanufacturing method will be described.

First, raw material, which can include herbs, vegetables, seaweed, corn,meat, fish, shellfish, soy beans, etc. is crushed to a magnitudeapproximating rice grains by any suitable means and is filled into theinternal cylinder 2c illustrated in FIG. 5(a). Once filled, the net isplaced over the raw material in order to stably maintain it in theinternal cylinder 2c.

Successively, the internal cylinder 2c is inserted into the externalcylinder 2 shown in FIG. 3. The housing 1 is filled with a sufficientamount of water or other liquid so that a mist can be produced. Thewater can be maintained at the same level continuously, or can be addedbatchwise. The temperature gauge is set to the desired temperature, andthe heater is activated to heat the water to a suitable temperature suchthat the temperature in the extracting device 2 is at such a level(generally below 100° C.) as to not destroy the effective ingredients ofthe raw material. For example, in the case of soybeans, the temperatureof the water is preferably heated to about 85° C., so that thetemperature of the water when it reaches the extracting device isbetween about 60-70° C., preferably about 65° C.

Once the water temperature in the housing 1 reaches the desirable level,the blower(s) 8 is activated to initiate flow through the system. Theblower(s) 8 causes air flow to circulate in the closed circulating pathformed by the housing 1, the extracting device 2 and the condensingdevice 3, as well as the pipes connecting these respective devices. Themist of water generated in the housing 1 thus pass through pipe Ptogether with the air flow and reaches the extracting device 2. Thetemperature in the extracting device 2 can be measured by a temperaturesensor to ensure that the appropriate temperature is reached therein.The temperature in the housing 1 can be controlled in response to thetemperature in the extraction device 2.

As described above, the air flow is circulated between each device bythe operation of the blower(s) 8, but since the extracting device 2 isfilled with the crushed particles S of raw material, the raw materialcreates a resistance to the air flow, thereby creating a decompressedspace within the extracting device 2.

Once the decompressed state is achieved, ingredients within the rawmaterial are extracted to the surface of the crushed pieces S of rawmaterial, and are then captured by the mist of water passingtherethrough. Since the temperature within the extracting device, andmore particularly, the temperature within the internal cylinder 2c ismaintained within the desired range, the ingredients contained in theraw material are extracted into the water without being destroyed byheat.

The resulting water containing the effective ingredient of the rawmaterial then flow to the condensing device 3 through the connectingpipe P2 together with the air flow from the blower 8. The outer cylinder4 of the condensing device 3 is filled with cooling material, preferablywater, at a temperature sufficient to cause condensation of the water inthe inner cylinder 5. Air flow and decompression in condensing device 3are controlled by modulating of valves V1 and V2. The liquefied orcondensed material drains through drain 7 as shown, and can beultimately collected through valve V3.

The particles which are not liquefied in the condensing device 3 aresucked towards the housing 1 through the connecting pipe P3 togetherwith the air flow, and are thereby recycled. The recycled portionoptionally can be preheated such as by a rectifying plate or spiralshape, so as not to lower the temperature of the water in the tank 1.

The cooling material in the condensing device 3 can be changedperiodically. Alternatively, a continuous flow of cooling liquid can beused to cool the inner cylinder 5.

The raw material can be crushed to about the size of rice grain.However, the concentration of effective ingredient contained in thefinal product can be controlled by varying the size of the raw material.For example, if the raw material is crushed into fine pieces, a finalproduct high in effective ingredient concentration can be obtained.However, in such a case the rate of final product produced decreases. Asthe size of the raw material increases, the concentration of effectiveingredient in the final product decreases, and the rate of productionincreases. Similarly, the use of the guide plate 2d increases the yieldof final product per hour by about 20%, but the concentration ofeffective ingredient in the final product decreases.

The final product is a colorless, transparent and clear liquidcontaining a known material and an unknown active material which has notbeen analyzed or further extracted.

The health beverage refined from the raw material has a noticeableefficacy, and numerous examples of an activation of human cell arereported as a result of drinking after meals final product diluted byadding 5 cc to 180 cc of water. The resulting beverage has a vague smelland a faint flavor of the raw material, such as soy bean flavor, when itis drunk by adding the same to mineral water and the like.

In the above described embodiment, although soybean is mentioned as araw material, the present invention is not to be so limited, as it ispossible to manufacture entirely new beverages, by using variousmaterials known to contribute to human health from ancient times. Thepresent invention can obtain a health beverage which is particularlyeffective and novel for maintaining human health by extracting aningredient from various materials which could not be extractedheretofore by the construction and operation as described above.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the condensing device 3' of the present inventionis shown in communication with a conventional dryer represented byhousing 1'. Examples of such conventional dryers are clothes dryers,granular dryers and wood dryers. Any conventional dryer can be used,provided that the dryer has drying air that becomes moisture-laden as aresult of the drying. Preferably the dryer is airtight. Inclusion of thecondensing device 3' with a conventional dryer reduces the drying timeby 50% or more. In addition, the drying temperature can be reducedrelative to a dryer without such a condensing device, in view of thedecompression in the system, the absence of moisture-laden outside airinfiltrating the system, and the fine control of the moisture content inthe drying air.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 is similar to that of FIG. 1, except that noextraction device is present. Thus, air from the dryer 1 is directed bya blower 8 to a condensing device 3' in fluid communication therewith.The condensing device 3' is similar to that described above with respectto FIG. 1, although it is shown in FIG. 2 with only one air flowregulating device 36' (more could be used). Incoming moisture-laden airis directed thereby to the common annular wall of inner cylinder 5' andouter cylinder 4, where it is cooled upon contact therewith to atemperature below the dew point of the moisture contained in the air.The resulting condensate produced by the cooling flows through drain 7'and is collected or discarded. The cooled air, whose moisture contenthas been reduced, is then returned to the dryer via pipe P3'. A valveV2' can be provided in line P3' to regulate the amount of air beingrecycled, and to control air flow and decompression in condensing device3' with valve V1'. The recycled air optionally can be reheated byseparate heating means (not shown) prior to its entry into dryer housing1'.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention is shown. This embodiment is similar to the embodimentof FIG. 1, except that no separate extracting device 2 is used. Thisembodiment is applicable where the material from which extraction istaking place is a liquid, such as sea water, ground water, spring water,hot spring water, etc.. Accordingly, housing 1" is in directcommunication with condensing device 3" through pipe P' and P2".Suitable heating means H, which can be located either inside or outsidethe housing 1", is provided to heat the liquid. An inlet 35 is providedin housing 1" for introducing into the housing the liquid medium fromwhich extraction will take place. An access port 37 can be provided inhousing 1" for cleaning purposes. A drain 38 with suitable valving alsocan be provided.

With the foregoing apparatus described in each of the embodiments, it ispossible to obtain balanced drying without influence from external airby circulating moisture-laden air through a condensing device to reduceor eliminate the moisture content thereof. The result is a substantialreduction in drying time and concomitant energy requirements therefor.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for extracting an ingredient from a rawmaterial selected from the group consisting of plant, animal andmineral, comprising:a housing for a liquid; means for heating saidliquid; extracting means in fluid communication with said housing, saidextracting means containing said raw material; condensing means in fluidcommunication with said extracting means, said condensing meanscomprising an outer container, a middle container within said outercontainer, and an inner container within said middle container, saidouter container containing a cooling material; and air circulating meansin fluid communication with said housing, said extracting means and saidmiddle container of said condensing means for circulating airtherethrough.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a closed circulationpath is formed amongst said housing, said extracting means, saidcondensing means, and said air circulating means.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein said extracting means comprises and external cylinderincluding a first external cylinder in fluid communication with saidhousing and a second external cylinder in fluid communication with saidcondensing means, and an internal cylinder contained within saidexternal cylinder, said internal cylinder receiving said raw material.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cooling material is water. 5.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising valve means associated withsaid condensing means for regulating the air flow through saidcondensing means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said condensingmeans has an inlet and an outlet, and wherein said valve means comprisesa first valve at said inlet and a second valve at said outlet.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer container, said middlecontainer, and said inner container are each cylindrical.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer container and said middlecontainer are concentric cylinders.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid inner container comprises a cooling fluid.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said inner container has a bottom within said middlecontainer.
 11. Condensing apparatus for condensing a vapor, comprisingan outer container, a middle container within said outer container, andan inner container within said middle container, said outer containercontaining a cooling material; said middle container having means forreceiving said vapor and means for discharging resulting condensate. 12.The condensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein said inner cylindercontains a cooling material.
 13. The condensing apparatus of claim 11,further comprising a dryer in fluid communication therewith.